Cat tunnels for catio wanted

[Patricia W]

Folks

 

Does anyone have any tips for keeping an " oven-ready" ex-bat warm? One of mine is seriously bald. She came out this morning for food and ( sensibly) is now back in the eglu. At what point should I think about bringing her inside - or not? I know jumpers aren't a good idea, but anything else I can do?

[Patricia W]

PS Does anyone know how long to heat up a snugglepad for? I got mine out but can I find the instructions???

[Poached Egg]

Our snugglesafe has the instructions for heating on it and it depends on the power of your microwave,but basically between 4 and 8 minutes.

[Lydia]

What I did last year when we rehomed in November last year was cover the eglu run in a couple of clear plastic shower curtains as much as possible. This will keep the worst of the elements out. I also provided lots of bedding material in the eglu itself as deep as possible. I think I stuck the snugglesafes in at night.

 

I also provided food stations near the eglu (not easy with the design of the run I know) so if they wanted to stay in they could and just put a toe and a beak outside to get the food and water.

 

All mine were fine (I still worried though )

 

To be honest I find most ex-bats will spend a lot more time than other hens just sitting in the eglu for the first few days. It's because their muscle tone isn't great and there's an awful lot to take in. As long as they're eating and drinking and gradually exploring they should be OK.

 

Good luck with them.

[Patricia W]

Mine are spending most of their time out in the run. They seem fasinated by the other girls and also just want to eat. The baldest one is going back in from time to time though.

 

I'll try moving the food stations closer to the eglu - not easy without dismantling the whole thing! Snugglesafe now in. I can see why people want to knit them coats! Anyone ever tried poultry saddles for them? I wondered if that might be a short term solution till they feather up a bit more.

[Tweety]

You could ring the BHWT care line and ask their advice.

 

It is a worry - I got my 4 girls in December last year and, although they weren't oven ready, a couple of them were quite threadbare and it was absolutely freezing. I kept them in my hospital wing in a stable for the first couple of weeks, to acclimatise them to the conditions, and then gave them the option of going outside if they wanted. They all did, and were fine

 

The snugglesafe is a good idea - and I would cover the sides of the run completely to keep the cold wind out as much as possible, or put it in a sheltered spot.

[Lavenders_Blue]

My newest ex batts are in an outside pen, but with a covered run that they can go into out of the wind and the rain. They seem bright and happy, and do choose to spend some of the day in the run but also lots of time out in the open, so I think giving them some shelter from the worst of the elements is the best option. I have also put lots of straw in the coop for them to snuggle into at night.

[redcharlie43]

I got three ex-bats last November 3 days before the snow. They were very threadbare but they coped very well in the eglu. I put lots and lots of straw in the eglu but other than giving them some hot porridge in the afternoon with some corn and making sure that the water was a bit warm in the morning I didn't do anything else and they made it through the winter just fine.

[Patricia W]

Well, they are in the eglu with the snugglesafe. And they put themselves to bed - wonderful how quickly they learn. The eglu was already in a sheltered spot and was partially covered but I've now put another cover on the run as a further windbreak.

 

They pottered about all day, eating loads and seemed OK so I think they should be fine. Tough old birds!

[Redwing]

As long as the run is sheltered and covered they should be jus fine. Its maybe worth taking the roosting bars out of the Eglu and filling the bottom with some bedding or even some straw so they can snuggle

[The Dogmother]

I'd also swap them from layers feed onto growers to give them more protein and make up a wet mash of it with some warm water and add a wee bit of tonic.

[Patricia W]

Thanks Folks - off to get the growers and sort out the roosting bars now! Much warner here today although there is a very strong wind.